Esther 9

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The king's command and decree came into force on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, andthe day on which the enemies of the Jews had hoped to crush them produced the very opposite effect: the Jewsit was who crushed their enemies.	1 So, on the third day, she put away her ornate apparel, and surrounded herself with glory.
2 In their towns throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the Jews assembled to strike at those whohad planned to injure them. No one resisted them, since the various peoples were now al afraid of them.	2 And when she was shining in a royal manner, and had called upon God, the Guide and Savior of all, she took two maids with her.
3 Provincial officers-of-state, satraps, governors and royal officials, al supported the Jews for fear ofMordecai.	3 And she was leaning upon one of them, as if, out of delicateness and great tenderness, she were not able to bear carrying her own body.
4 And indeed Mordecai was a power in the palace and his fame was spreading through al the provinces;Mordecai was steadily growing more powerful.	4 And the other maid followed her lady, carrying her garment flowing on the ground.
5 So the Jews struck down al their enemies with the sword, with resulting slaughter and destruction, andworked their wil on their opponents.	5 Yet she had a rosy color pouring over her face, for, with gracious and bright eyes, she restrained a sorrowful soul and very great fear.
6 In the citadel of Susa alone, the Jews put to death and slaughtered five hundred men,	6 And so, entering hesitantly through a series of doors, she stood opposite the king, where he sat upon his royal throne, clothed in royal robes, and shining with gold and precious stones. And he was terrible to behold.
7 notably Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,	7 And when he had lifted up his face, and with burning eyes had shown the fury of his heart, the queen collapsed, and her color turned pale, and she rested her exhausted head upon her handmaid.
8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,	8 And God changed the king’s spirit into gentleness; quickly and apprehensively, he leapt from his throne, and lifting her up in his arms until she came to herself, he coaxed her with these words:
9 Parmashtha, Arisai, Aridai and Jezatha,	9 “What is the matter, Esther? I am your brother, do not be afraid.
10 the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the persecutor of the Jews. But they took no plunder.	10 You will not die. For this law has not been established for you, but for all others.
11 The number of those kil ed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day.	11 So approach and touch the scepter.”
12 The king said to Queen Esther, 'In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed five hundred men and alsothe ten sons of Haman. What must they have done in the other provinces of the realm? Tel me your request; Igrant it to you. Tel me what else you would like; it is yours for the asking.'	12 And since she remained silent, he took the golden scepter and placed it on her neck, and he kissed her and said, “Why do you not speak to me?”
13 'If such is the king's pleasure,' Esther replied, 'let the Jews of Susa be al owed to enforce today'sdecree tomorrow as well. And as for the ten sons of Haman, let their bodies be hanged on the gal ows.'	13 She answered, “I saw you, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was disturbed for fear of your glory.
14 Whereupon, the king having given the order, the edict was promulgated in Susa and the ten sons ofHaman were hanged.	14 For you, my lord, are great and wonderful, and your face is full of grace.”
15 Thus the Jews of Susa reassembled on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and kil ed threehundred men in the city. But they took no plunder.	15 And while she was speaking, she collapsed again, because she was out of breath.
16 The other Jews who lived in the king's provinces also assembled to defend their lives and ridthemselves of their enemies. They slaughtered seventy-five thousand of their opponents. But they took noplunder.	16 But the king was troubled, and all his servants consoled her.
17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. On the fourteenth day they rested and made it aday of feasting and gladness.	17 (Alternate text from the Hebrew, verses 17-18:) And so, on the third day, Esther had put on her royal apparel and was standing in the atrium of the king’s house, which was inside, opposite the king’s hall, while he was sitting on his throne in the council room of the palace, opposite the entrance of the house.
18 But for the Jews of Susa, who had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth days, the fifteenth wasthe day they rested, making that a day of feasting and gladness.	18 And when he saw Esther the queen standing there, she pleased his eyes, and he extended toward her the golden scepter, which he held in his hand, and she approached and kissed the top of his scepter.
19 This is why Jewish country people, those who live in undefended vil ages, keep the fourteenth day ofthe month of Adar as a day of gladness, feasting and holiday-making, and the exchanging of presents with oneanother, (a) whereas for those who live in cities the day of rejoicing and exchanging presents with theirneighbours is the fifteenth day of Adar.	19 And the king said to her, “What do you wish, queen Esther? What is your request? Even if you ask for half of the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
20 Mordecai committed these events to writing. Then he sent letters to all the Jews living in the provincesof King Ahasuerus, both near and far,	20 But she responded, “If it pleases the king, I beg you to come with me today, and Haman with you, to the feast that I have prepared.”
21 enjoining them to celebrate the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar every year,	21 And immediately the king said, “Call Haman quickly, so that he may obey Esther’s will. And so the king and Haman came to the feast, which the queen had prepared for them.
22 as the days on which the Jews had rid themselves of their enemies, and the month in which theirsorrow had been turned into gladness, and mourning into a holiday. He therefore told them to keep these asdays of festivity and gladness when they were to exchange presents and make gifts to the poor.	22 And the king said to her, after he had drunk wine abundantly, “What are you asking for that should be given to you? And which things do you require? Even if you request half of my kingdom, you will obtain it.”
23 Once having begun, the Jews continued observing these practices, Mordecai having written them anaccount	23 Esther answered him, “My petition and prayer is this:
24 of how Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the persecutor of al the Jews, had plotted theirdestruction and had cast the pur, that is, the lot, for their overthrow and ruin;	24 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to give me what I ask, and to fulfill my petition, let the king and Haman come to the feast which I have prepared for them, and tomorrow I will open my mind to the king.”
25 but how, when he went back to the king to ask him to order the hanging of Mordecai, the wickedscheme which he had devised against the Jews recoiled on his own head, and both he and his sons werehanged on the gallows;	25 And so Haman went out that day joyful and cheerful. And when he saw that Mordecai was sitting in front of the gate of the palace, and that he alone did not get up for him, but did not so much as move from the place where he sat, he was very indignant.
26 and that, hence, these days were cal ed Purim, from the word pur. And so, because of what waswritten in this letter, and because of what they had seen for themselves and of what had happened to them,	26 But, concealing his anger and returning into his house, he gathered to him his friends and Zeresh, his wife.
27 the Jews wil ingly bound themselves, their descendants and al who should join them, to celebratethese two days without fail, in the manner prescribed and at the time appointed, year after year.	27 And he explained to them the greatness of his riches, and the influence of his sons, and how, with such glory, the king had elevated him above all his rulers and servants.
28 Thus commemorated and celebrated from generation to generation, in every family, in every province,in every city, these days of Purim will never be abrogated among the Jews, nor will their memory perish fromtheir race.	28 And after this, he said, “Also, queen Esther has called no one else to the feast with the king, except me. And I will be dining with the king again tomorrow.
29 Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, wrote with ful authority to ratify this second letter,	29 And though I have all these things, I consider that I have nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting in front of the king’s gate.”
30 and sent letters to all the Jews of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the realm of Ahasuerus,in terms of peace and loyalty	30 And Zeresh his wife and his other friends answered him, “Order a great beam to be prepared, having a height of fifty cubits, and in the morning speak to the king, so that Mordecai may be hanged from it, and so you will go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This advice pleased him, and so he ordered a high cross to be prepared.
31 enjoining them to observe these days of Purim at the appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew hadrecommended, and in the manner prescribed for themselves and their descendants, with additional ordinancesfor fasts and lamentations.
32 The ordinance of Esther fixed the law of Purim, which was then recorded in a book.